Justice Sanjiv Khanna is set to become the 51st Chief Justice of India, with the oath-taking ceremony to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. His appointment follows the retirement of Justice DY Chandrachud, who concluded his term on November 10 at age 65. Justice Khanna will serve in this role until May 13 next year.

Born on May 14, 1960, Justice Khanna studied law at Delhi University's Campus Law Centre and is a third-generation lawyer. His career includes a notable tenure as a judge in the Delhi High Court, as well as serving as executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). In January 2019, he was appointed to the Supreme Court, where he has presided over numerous high-profile and politically significant cases.

One of his prominent cases involved granting interim bail to Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a case linked to the Delhi liquor policy. In May, his bench permitted Kejriwal to campaign during the Lok Sabha elections, and later in July, it provided temporary relief again, referring the case to a larger bench to assess the grounds for arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Justice Khanna has also contributed to landmark decisions, including the cases on Article 370 and electoral bonds, as part of the Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench. His bench has tackled various issues, including the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), further showcasing his impactful role in Indian judiciary.